LANSING - Gov. John Engler, Michigan’s legislators and MSU mascot Sparty joined together Wednesday night to discuss the future of the state.
In his 11th State of the State address, this one titled, “The Next Michigan,” Engler outlined his plans for the next year - an agenda that includes education reform and attracting new high-tech businesses to the state.
“After the ‘90s, a decade in which Michigan led the nation, our goal is to restore and review our great state,” the governor told a joint session of the House and Senate in the House chambers.
Engler, during his 40-minute speech to a mild audience, said he hopes Michigan can be prepared for any future crisis, while continuing to make progressive movement in state education.
While some were in agreement with the governor’s plans for education, the tax cuts he discussed for online businesses - which would encourage the development of more such corporations in the state - were controversial, leading some Michigan leaders to hope for better ideas in the future.
“I thought the governor made some good points,” said state Rep. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, who represents MSU. “But there were some issues that I would like to have seen addressed and some different solutions brought up.”
Despite the air of bipartisan cooperation currently running through the Legislature - spurred by state House Speaker Rick Johnson, R-LeRoy, and House Minority Leader Kwame Kilpatrick, D-Detroit - the division between the two parties was evident as the chambers emptied and discussion about the governor’s speech began.
“I thought the governor did a whale of a job,” said Rusty Hills, chairman of the Michigan Republican party.
Hills, who was recently reappointed to his position for a second term, said Engler “is still reforming after 10 years. He’s trying to fix things and make things better - focusing on education, number one, and trying to create more jobs.”
Engler’s speech, while full of positive statistics such as all-time low unemployment figures and slews of tax cuts, did come less than one week after auto giant DaimlerChrysler announced it’s cutting 25,000 jobs.
The governor touched on the potential economic slowdown only briefly, saying he hopes Michigan is prepared to handle future dilemmas.
Meanwhile, he focused on business and education - despite moments of levity and the entrance of Sparty onto the House balcony.
Engler highlighted the state’s dedication to education and his hopes that President Bush’s current agenda would assist citizens of Michigan.
Bush’s plans include vouchers and mandatory student and teacher testing.
“The next Michigan educates their children,” Engler said. “Undoubtedly, the single most important thing we can do to ensure the success of the next Michigan is to ensure the success of the next generation.”
Some, though, say Engler didn’t quite elaborate enough on his education plans.
State Sen. Dianne Byrum, D-Onondaga, who represents MSU, said Engler neglected some issues.
“I would have liked some more specifics on his educational plan,” she said.
“After that, I wish he would have had a stronger message on protecting the Great Lakes and voter reform - I was really disappointed that he didn’t get to any issues about voting reform.”
Briefly, Engler took time to talk of Lansing Mayor David Hollister’s Monday State of the City speech, which heavily endorsed a $388.5 million bond proposal that would renovate and technologically update the Lansing Public School District.
Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, who sat behind Engler throughout the address, said afterward that he’s excited about the future of promoting and building on the high-tech industries in Michigan.
“Those are really the businesses of the future,” he said. “And high-paying jobs.”
Drew M. Harmon can be reached at harmondr@msu.edu.
